Promises and Warnings

for Saints and Sinners 

Consider: 

  • What are God’s precious and magnificent promises to His faithful children? 
  • What are God’s solemn warnings to those who live in sin? 
  • How do these relate to you—personally?

Have you ever read through your Bible and come to a verse that says who will be spiritually blessed by God or who will go to heaven?  These statements may come in different forms.  Some may say that a person qualified in a certain way will be “saved,” will be “forgiven,” or will “enter the kingdom of God.”  Others may say that such a person will “receive eternal life” or “enter the city of God.”  These are indeed “precious and magnificent promises” that stimulate us to turn from the world and to the ways of God (2 Peter 1:4; 2 Cor. 7:1; 1 John 3:1-3).  They are given and confirmed through Jesus Christ.  “As many as are the promises of God, in [Christ] they are yes” (2 Cor. 1:20).  Christ is God’s “Yes” to His precious promises to His beloved children!

Certain spiritual gifts or blessings are specifically called “promises” in God’s Word, such as eternal life (1 John 2:25), the Holy Spirit (Acts 2:38-39), and the kingdom of God (James 2:5).  However, numerous other present and future gifts of God are also given, as the fulfillment of God’s gracious promises.

There are other Bible passages that are opposite to God’s gracious promises of salvation.  Some of these warnings reveal who will not enter the kingdom of God, will not see God, or will not have eternal life.  Just as the promises should fill the obedient believer with comfort and hope, these solemn warnings should stimulate those in sin to escape God’s wrath and find refuge in His grace (Matt. 3:7; Rom. 2:4-5; Acts 17:30-31).  Promises of God’s blessing are positive in nature, whereas warnings are negative.  Both come from God’s heart of love.

It is crucially important that we take these promises and warnings seriously.  Many people today may see a particular verse of Scripture and assume that it represents the complete truth of God, but they overlook equally important and true statements that give us a full view of God’s will in this vital matter.

Let’s look at a number of verses in God’s Word that give us promises of God’s present and eternal blessing, then we’ll look at other verses that give serious warnings to us.  Pay special attention to any conditions or qualifications attached to these promises.  They are contingent on our response to God, to Christ, and to the Word of God.  Please read these many statements with faith and prayer!

The Promises of God

  1. The one who believes in Jesus Christ will have eternal life (John 3:15-16, 36; 6:40, 47; 20:31).
  2. The one who believes in the Lord Jesus will be saved (Acts 16:31; Rom. 1:16).
  3. The one who believes God has eternal life (John 5:24).
  4. The one who is born of water and the Spirit will enter the kingdom of God (John 3:3,5,7).
  5. The one who comes to Christ will receive rest for his soul (Matt. 11:28-29).
  6. The one who comes to Jesus will have life and will not be cast out (John 5:40; 6:37).
  7. The one who obeys Jesus will receive eternal salvation (Hebrews 5:9).
  8. The one who believes in the Lord Jesus will live even if he dies (John 11:25).
  9. The one who lives and believes in Christ will never die (John 11:26).
  10. The one who follows Jesus, the Light of the world, will not walk in darkness but will have the Light of life (John 8:12).
  11. The one who has had compassion on Christ’s “brothers” will inherit eternal life and enter the kingdom of God (Matt. 25:31-40, 46).
  12. The one who does the will of God will enter the kingdom of God (Matt. 7:21).
  13. The one who is faithful until death will receive the crown of life (Rev. 2:10).
  14. The one who overcomes will not be hurt by the second death (Rev. 2:11).
  15. The one who overcomes will be clothed in white garments and will not have his name erased from the book of life (Rev. 3:5).
  16. The one who endures to the end will be saved (Mark 13:13; Matt. 10:22; 24:13).
  17. The one who enters through the narrow gate and walks on the narrow way will receive life (Matt. 7:13-14).
  18. The one who repents of his sins will receive forgiveness of sins (Luke 24:47; cf. Acts 8:22).
  19. The one who is merciful will receive mercy (Matt. 5:7).
  20. The one who is pure in heart will see God (Matt. 5:8).
  21. The one who does the will of God lives forever (1 John 2:17).
  22. The one who believes in Christ receives the Holy Spirit (Gal. 3:2, 14; Eph. 1:13; John 7:37-39).
  23. The one who obeys God is given the Holy Spirit (Acts 5:32).
  24. The one who knows the truth will be set free by the truth and by Christ who gave it (John 8:31-32, 34, 36).
  25. The one who is righteous will enter the kingdom of God (Matt. 25:31-34; cf. v. 46).
  26. The one who confesses Jesus before others will be confessed by Jesus before God (Matt. 10:32; Luke 12:8; cf. Rev. 3:5).
  27. The one who confesses Jesus as Lord will be saved (Rom. 10:9-10).
  28. The one who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved and have his sins washed away(Rom. 10:13; Acts 2:21; 22:16).
  29. The one who is baptized will be saved (1 Peter 3:21).
  30. The one who believes and is baptized will be saved (Mark 16:16).
  31. The one who repents of his sins and returns will have his sins wiped away (Acts 3:19).
  32. The one who walks in the light of God will have his sins washed away by the blood of Christ (1 John 1:7).
  33. The one who confesses his sins, as a child of God, will be forgiven of his sins and cleansed from all unrighteousness (1 John 1:9).
  34. The one who believes in Jesus Christ will be forgiven of his sins (Acts 10:43).
  35. The one who loses his life for Christ’s sake will save it (Mark 8:35; Matt. 10:39).
  36. The one who abides in Christ will have confidence when Christ comes again (1 John 2:28).
  37. The one who sets his mind on the Spirit will have life and peace (Rom. 8:6; cf. vv. 5-8).
  38. The one who humbles himself under the mighty hand of God will be exalted at the proper time (1 Pet. 5:6; James 4:10).
  39. The one who turns to God from idols, to serve the living and true God, will be rescued from God’s coming wrath (1 Thess. 1:9-10).
  40. The one who forgives his brother will be forgiven by the Heavenly Father (Matt. 6:14-15; cf. 18:21-35; Mark 11:25).
  41. The one who fights the good fight, finishes the course, keeps the faith, and loves Christ’s appearing will receive the crown of life (2 Tim. 4:7-8).
  42. The one who carries out Christ’s great commission to make disciples will have His presence forever (Matt. 28:19-20).
  43. The one who puts to death the deeds of the body by the Spirit will live (Rom. 8:13; cf. Gal. 5:16).
  44. The one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life (Gal. 6:8).
  45. The one who overcomes will eat of the tree of life in the Paradise of God (Rev. 2:7).
  46. The one who perseveres in doing good will receive glory, honor, immortality, and eternal life (Rom. 2:7).
  47. The one who keeps Christ’s commands will abide in His love (John 15:10).
  48. The one who does what Christ commands will be His friend (John 15:14).
  49. The one who is generous with his earthly wealth lays up treasure in heaven (1 Tim. 6:17-19; Matt. 6:19-21; Luke 12:21,33-34; 18:22).
  50. The one who perseveres under trial will receive the crown of life (James 1:12).
  51. The one who loves God will receive the kingdom of God and the crown of life (James 2:5; 1:12).
  52. The one who adds virtues to his life will receive an entrance into the eternal kingdom of Christ (2 Peter 1:5-11).
  53. The one who loves his brothers in Christ has passed out of death into life (1 John 3:14).
  54. The one who keeps Christ’s word has the love of God perfected in him (1 John 2:5).
  55. The one who repents and is baptized will receive forgiveness of sins and the gift of the Spirit (Acts 2:38-29).
  56. The one who is baptized into Christ clothes himself with Christ (Gal. 3:27).
  57. The one who hears the voice of the Shepherd and follows Him will be known by the Shepherd, will receive eternal life, and will never perish (John 10:27-28).
  58. The one who has Christ’s commands and keeps them will be loved by both Christ and the Father (John 14:21).
  59. The one who loves and obeys Christ will be the abode (or home) of both the Father and the Son (John 14:23).
  60. The one who dies with Christ will live with Him (Rom. 6:8; 2 Tim. 2:11).
  61. The one who has been persecuted for the sake of Christ and righteousness will receive the kingdom of heaven and a reward in heaven (Matt. 5:10-12; cf. Luke 6:22-23).
  62. The one who hates his life in this world will keep it to life eternal (John 12:25).
  63. The one who does good will receive a part in the resurrection of life (John 5:29).
  64. The one who suffers with Christ will also be glorified with Him (Rom. 8:17-18).
  65. The one who is absent from the body is at home with the Lord (2 Cor. 5:8).
  66. The one who holds fast the beginning of his assurance firm to the end will be a partaker of Christ (Heb. 3:14).
  67. The one who keeps Christ’s word will never see death (John 8:51).
  68. The one who washes his robes will have the right to the tree of life and will enter by the gates into the City of God (Rev. 22:14).
  69. The one who has his name written in the Lamb’s book of life will be permitted to enter the City of God (Rev. 21:27).
  70. The one who holds fast to the word of the gospel will be saved (1 Corinthians 15:1-2).
  71. The one who has faith is protected by the power of God for a salvation that will be given at the last time and will be given an inheritance reserved in heaven for him (1 Pet. 1:4-5).
  72. The one who keeps himself in the love of God may wait anxiously for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to eternal life (Jude 21).

The Warnings of God

The warnings of God are serious and solemn pleas from His loving heart.  The Lord gives them to shock the sinner into a realization of his helpless, tragic, and dreadful condition so that he will escape God’s wrath and flee to Christ for salvation.

  1. The one who does not repent of his sins will perish (2 Peter 3:9; Luke 13:3, 5).
  2. The one who does not believe in the gospel of Christ will be condemned (Mark 16:15-16).
  3. The one who does not love the Lord will be accursed (1 Cor. 16:22).
  4. The one who enters the wide gate and walks the broad way will go to destruction (Matt. 7:13).
  5. The one who denies Jesus before others will be denied by Jesus before the Father and the angels (Matt. 10:33; Luke 12:9; 2 Tim. 2:12).
  6. The one who sins willfully will receive severe punishment and God’s judgment (Heb. 10:26-31).
  7. The one who wishes to save his life will lose it (Mark 8:35; Matt. 10:39).
  8. The one who fails to exercise faith and obedience will not enter the rest of God (Heb. 4:1, 3, 6, 11; cf. Rev. 14:13).
  9. The one who is living according to the flesh will die (Rom. 8:13).
  10. The one who does the deeds of the flesh will not inherit the kingdom of God (Gal. 5:19-21).
  11. The one who sows to the flesh will from the flesh reap corruption (Gal. 6:7).
  12. The one who practices lawlessness will be eternally separated from Christ (Matt. 7:23; cf. Luke 13:24-27).
  13. The one who does not show compassion toward the “brothers” of Christ will receive eternal fire and eternal punishment (Matt. 25:41-46).
  14. The one who speaks wrongfully will give account on the day of judgment and will be condemned (Matt. 12:36-37).
  15. The one who commits evil deeds will receive a resurrection of judgment (John 5:28-29).
  16. The one who is selfishly ambitious and does not obey the truth, will receive wrath, indignation, tribulation, and distress (Rom. 2:8-9).
  17. The one who loves father, mother, son, or daughter more than Jesus is not worthy of Him (Matt. 10:37).
  18. The one who is ashamed of Christ, Christ will be ashamed of him when He returns (Mark 8:38).
  19. The one who is indifferent to the poor and who lives in selfish wealth will go to a place of torment and agony (Luke 16:19-31).
  20. The one who does not know God or obey the gospel of the Lord Jesus will receive retribution from Christ, will be eternally separated from Him, and will pay the penalty of eternal destruction (2 Thess. 1:7-9).
  21. The one who does not abide in Christ is thrown away as a branch and burned up (John 15:6).
  22. The one who neglects God’s great salvation will not escape (Heb. 2:3).
  23. The one who does not love his brother abides in death (1 John 3:14).
  24. The one who hates his brother does not have eternal life abiding in him (1 John 3:15).
  25. The one who has not shown mercy will receive a judgment without mercy (James 2:13).
  26. The one who participates in sinful sexual relationships (as a fornicator or adulterer) will be judged by God (Heb. 13:4).
  27. The one who indulges in sexual immorality will undergo the punishment of eternal fire (Jude 7).
  28. The one who practices sin is worthy of death and the judgment of God (Rom. 1:28-32; 2:2).
  29. The one who sins will die (Rom. 6:21, 23; James 1:15; 5:20).
  30. The one who is not holy will not see the Lord (Heb. 12:14).
  31. The one who wants to get rich falls into desires that plunge him into ruin and destruction (1 Tim. 6:9-10).
  32. The one who is lukewarm will be rejected by the Lord (Rev. 3:15-16).
  33. The one who preaches a gospel different than what Paul preached will be accursed (Gal. 1:6-9).
  34. The one who transgresses and defrauds his brother will suffer the vengeance of God (1 Thess. 4:3-6).
  35. The one who does not abide in Christ will shrink away from Him in shame when He returns (1 John 2:28).
  36. The one who is stubborn and has an unrepentant heart is storing up wrath for himself when the righteous judgment of God is revealed (Rom. 2:4-6).
  37. The one who continues in sin will receive the wrath or anger of God (Col. 3:6; Eph. 5:5-6).
  38. The one who sins with his body will go bodily go into hell (Matt. 5:29-30).
  39. The one who practices religious hypocrisy and is spiritually blind will not escape “the sentence of hell” (Matt. 23:13-33).
  40. The one who commits lawlessness will be taken out of Christ’s kingdom and thrown into a “furnace of fire” where there will be “weeping and gnashing of teeth” (Matt.13:41-42).
  41. The one who is entangled and overcome by the world will be in a state worse than at first before coming to Christ (2 Peter 2:20).
  42. The one who does not believe in Jesus will die in his sins (John 8:24; cf. v. 21).
  43. The one who practices sin will be forbidden to enter the City of God (Rev. 21:27).
  44. The one who does not have his name written in the Lamb’s book of life will be thrown into the lake of fire (Rev. 20:15).
  45. The one who is unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God (1 Cor. 6:9-10; cf. Eph. 5:5-6).
  46. The one who lives in sin will be thrown into the lake of fire (Rev. 21:8).

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Have you been blessed by the promises of God?  These Scriptural truths show us God’s loving and merciful heart.  They especially can encourage us during times of trial, during seasons of sickness, and during the ordeal of persecution and suffering for Christ’s sake.  They are given to awaken our joy and peace as well as stimulate our diligence and perseverance in the present.  They sustain our hope for the future!

On the other hand, have you been shocked by the solemn and serious warnings of the Lord to those who choose to remain in unbelief and sin?  These warnings show that God is a God of justice and wrath who will not tolerate unbelief and disobedience to His will.  However, they also reveal God’s heart of love and grace, for He calls on all people to repent and turn to Christ for the forgiveness of all sin and a home in heaven.  Further, God not only warns sinners, but also warns His children of the deception and consequences of sin (cf. Gal. 5:21; Eph. 5:6-7; Heb. 4:1, 11; James 1:14-16), for He doesn’t want any of them to perish but all to be partakers of His precious promises in Christ Jesus!

We have seen that these spiritual blessings are conditional or contingent on our personal response to God or Christ.  For example, we noticed that it is crucial to have faith (John 3:16), to repent of our sins (Acts 3:19), to confess Jesus as Lord (Rom. 10:9), to obey God (Heb. 5:9), to be baptized into Christ (Gal. 3:27), to love the Lord (1 Cor. 16:22), to be diligent (Heb. 4:11), to be holy (Heb. 12:14), and to be righteous (Matt. 25:46).  God has revealed this for our good, so that “when you have done the will of God, you may receive what was promised” (Heb. 10:36).

In all that we have stated in the foregoing discussion, we must always bear in mind that nothing we do or can do makes us deserving of God’s salvation.  We are saved through Christ’s redeeming death on the cross, His life-giving resurrection from the death, and His present saving activity in heaven (cf. Rom. 3:24-26; 5:6-11; 2 Cor. 5:14-21; 1 Pet. 2:24; 3:18).  We are saved by God’s grace and not through our own meritorious works (Eph. 2:4-10).

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If you would like to know more fully how you may escape the wrath and judgment of God and how you may partake of His wondrous promises, please write us immediately.

Richard Hollerman